What are parabens?
Parabens are a large collection of synthetic chemical products found in most skin care and cosmetic products including moisturizers, shampoos, foundation, face powder, exfoliants, baby products… There are thousands of skin care products that contain parabens, the list is endless. The reason parabens are put into skin care products is they have an antibacterial effect and act as a preservative.
So what? There are two problems.
One: The first is the potential for parabens to be absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream from where they can lodge in our fatty tissues. Parabens mimic the hormone estrogen and can be absorbed by the breast tissue. In their unconverted form, they’ve been found in breast tumors.
Two: Anti aging products are bought by both men and women in the hope of preserving the appearance of their skin. The problem is that some parabens can react to the UV rays in sunlight to produce a substance that actually accelerates aging. And not just a little ironically, many sunblocks actually contain parabens!
How can I tell if there are parabens in the products I use?
Check the label of any cosmetic product you’re using. Some of the more recognizable ones are: Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Aseptoform Butyl and Benzoic acid.
Over 90% of skin care products, contain these chemicals because they’re cheap and until recently, considered relatively safe. The FDA has requested cosmetic companies to test the various ingredients they use to manufacture their products (May 2005). While they are to be commended for this, the process is laboriously slow and ongoing.
How can I protect my family against parabens?
Make sure you use all-natural mineral cosmetic products like those created by Stript Cosmetics (see our paraben-free products post) and 100% Pure. Beauty Collection is proud to once again be ahead of the curve.
No related posts.
